special juice's 240 gallons of FOWLR glory!- Not so FOWLRish anymore!

IMO/IME PIA, LA/DD, and Bluezoo are the best, i would be patient
Check LFS's too

 

I havent placed an order yet. I'm going to swing by one of the better LFS in town and see if they have anything interesting.

 

Only Copperbands offered in the two LFS that I went to. I can't understand why this fish is so widely offered given it's success in home aquariums is so hit or miss. I saw a new aquarist purchase one today, drawn in by it's beauty but unaware of the feeding difficulties.

Anyway, I am going to buy a couple of butterflies from BlueZoo. I've been happy with their livestock overall and i have a store credit that i need to use. I keep changing my mind, but I think it will be a longnose (Flavissimus) and an Auriga. I am leaning toward the hardier butterflies, hopefully increasing my chances of success.

 

I should just order this from Diver's Den:
Drs. Foster and Smith Diver's Den® - Chaetodon daedalma

 

Looks like a really nice fish - you mind throwing some cash my way ;D

 

I woke up this morning to prepare to acclimate my shipment from BlueZoo, which shoul arrive any moment, and discovered that my Latticed Butterflyfish died in QT overnight. During copper treatment he had stopped eating. I tried feeding many different foods with no success. It's sad and frustrating.

 

so sorry to hear that special

 

I haven't updated in a nearly a month so here's an update. The tank itself is doing great. Water quality is stable, skimmer is working great and fish have plenty of swimming space. The bad news is I am really struggling with butterflyfish. The larger of my Bannerfish pair bullied the smaller one to death despite my best attempts to protect it. I have lost four other butterflies in QT: A longnose-Ordered from BlueZoo, did not arrive eating; a Latticed to marine velvet, a Saddled and Auriga both during Cupramine treatment for ich. I have one butterfly left in QT- A Mertensii that is tolerating copper treatment well.

I feel awful! Both of my QT tanks are monitored closely and I feel like I have taken all of the proper measures to give my fish the greatest chance for survival. I am thinking about nixing butterflies from my stock list altogether and going with fish that are generally hardier. I know that creatures will die occasionally in this hobby but I'm frustrated with having these animals perish under my care not to mention the amount of money that has been wasted. Ideas? Help?

 

I might try something other than butterflies. I know there isn't scientific knowledge to back this up but I think tanks develop their own personalities that includes your husbandry. For whatever reason, sometimes certain fish do not fare well in your own unique biosphere but others do well.

 

Thanks OFK, once again, for your insight! I am unsure what direction to take with this tank. I'll have to spend some time thinking it through I guess.